As I type this, @roncollins, the terrific race director of the Tampa Bay Marathon, is getting close to the Southern California shores and about to complete the last swim of his Triple Crown. Swim, Ron, Swim! Follow his progress here: http://www.distancematters.com

Courtney was great out there. Very detailed plan of attack for the channel and made it look easy. She surrounded herself with a very positive and upbeat crew that was led by her supporting husband, Matt. Congratulations to them all!

Thank you, everyone! It's awesome to claim an accomplishment and not have to go on trial to defend it because of inconsistent reporting and ratification. I love the Catalina Channel, but only now that it has allowed me to cross and live to tell the tale!

Also, I want to commend @roncollins for posting on FB an awesome two-photo contrast of his attempt contrasted with his success, reporting on his weight both times. Lots of people, including some of us in the sport, struggle with the deceit of the silly "strong is the new skinny" ads (which invariably still feature skinny people). Every message that one can be a fabulous athlete at any size--indeed, that sometimes being a fabulous athlete *requires* a larger size--promotes health and sport out there.

Abigail Bergman is on track.rs/abby this morning for a Catalina Channel swim.

Abby swims at Smith College in Massachusetts (with fellow marathon swimmers Charlotte Samuels and recent grad Paige Christie); she blogs at abbygirlrose.wordpress.com; she recently was women's winner of the Santa Barbara Semana Nautica 6-mile swim; and she is also a Forum member!

Abby's track.rs page is using her mobile phone as the GPS device. FYI for future Catalina swimmers -- you CAN get continuous cellular reception on this swim, even in the middle of the channel. So you don't need to borrow or rent or buy a SPOT tracker.

According to unofficial reports from the boat, Melissa Berkay just finished a butterfly crossing of the Catalina Channel, in 12 hr 42 min. Melissa is a student and swimmer at Mills College in Oakland, California. Her track will be up temporarily at track.rs/2

This has only been done once before, by Vicki Keith in 1989. Other Catalina stroke-specific crossings include: